HRC Blog

Colorado Senate Election: Udall vs. Gardner

Colorado’s Senate Election in November will see two candidates from opposite sides of the LGBT movement go head-to-head. Democratic incumbent Mark Udall is a fierce advocate of LGBT rights while his opponent, Congressman Cory Gardner, boasts an incredibly anti-LGBT record.

HRC has already endorsed Sen. Udall for reelection due his longstanding support of LGBT rights. With Gardner as his polar opposite, it is obvious that Udall deserves to be reelected in order to continue his work for all Colorodans, including the LGBT community. The stark difference between the two candidates only proves who will be on the right side of history and who will not.

“Senator Udall works tirelessly for equality for all Americans,” said David Stacy, HRC’s Director of Government Affairs. “From his leadership on repealing ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell’ to supporting marriage equality, Udall stands with the LGBT community as a true ally. In contrast, Congressman Gardner has not supported pro-equality legislation and earned a flat zero on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard.”

Sen. Udall has been instrumental in the fight for LGBT equality – in addition to leading the fight to overturn “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” he urged President Obama to issue an executive order prohibiting federal contractors from discriminating against LGBT employees, and has long fought for the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

Gardner, on the other hand, has an incredibly antiquated view on equality. He voted against allowing unmarried same-sex partners to adopt children and to prohibit sexual orientation discrimination. While Sen. Udall focuses his efforts on progress and equality, Gardner is determined to discriminate against and exclude LGBT people.

This race is going to be very close in the purple state of Colorado. Please consider making a contribution to Udall’s reelection through HRC’s online fundraising page: www.hrc.org/candidates

Paid for by the Human Rights Campaign political action committee and authorized by Udall for Colorado.